Liquid-retaining device for laundry machines



Feb. 18, 1930. 5, w, DUNHAM 1,747,762

LIQUID RETAINING DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Jan. 11. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0) 0 Q Q O O O O (D Q) Q 32 Z Z I m 2 H z INVENTOR Z )%A9%&m

BY WZI- M ATTORNEY Tel). 18, 1930. G. w. DUNHAM 1,747,762

LIQUID RETAINING DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Jan. 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ye By mu m.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE w. DUNHAII, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,, ASSIGNOR TO WHIBLDRY CORPORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK LIQUID-RETAINING DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Application filed January 11, 1927. Serial No. 160,353.

The invention relates to a liquid retainingtaining device built into the wall of the tank;

device for a laund machine, and, more particularly, to a liqui retaining device for preventing loss of liquid from the tank of a laundry machine of the type having a receptacle which may be rotated for centrifugal extraction.

According to the invention, the laundry machine may comprise a tank in which may be rotatably mounted a receptacle adapted to hold the laundry and which may be of the imperforate type for holding also a laundry liquid during washing. The wall of the tank surrounding the receptacle may be provided with a liquid retaining device disposed in proper relation to the receptacle to prevent liquid discharged from the receptacle during centrifugal extraction or other operation from splashing out upon the operator and in the room. The liquid retammg device may be so arranged as to allow the operator to view the operations, and preferably also to allow laundry to be placed into the receptacle and taken out of the receptacle without interference.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations'of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed. out with particularity in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of one type of laundry machine with which the invention may be used, parts shown broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the form of liquid retaining device shown in Fi 1; Fig. 3 shows a modified form of liquid reand,

Fig. 4 shows still another modified form of liquid retaining device, the device being easily removable.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly, to Figs. 1 and 2, the laundry machine may comprise a tank 1 having a generally cylindrical side wall 2 and a bottom 3 which slopes downwardly to the center thereof, the tank being suitably supported by legs 4. Suspended from the bottom of the tank may be a-centrifugal type pump 5, from 7 which may be further suspended a gear box 6 having suitable gearing therein for performing the various operations. Suspended also from the bottom of the tank may be a driving motor 7 having suitable connections with the gearing.

Disposed at the side of the tank and secured thereto may be a standpipe 8 made up of a lower riser tube 9, in which is telescopically mounted a flow pipe 10 having a re- 30 turn-bent discharge nozzle 11. The intake of the pump communicates with the bottom of the tank and its discharge outlet connects with the standpipe 8 by means of a piece of flexible tubing 12.

Rising from the bottom of the tank 1 may be a pedestal 14 on which may be rotatably mounted well above the bottom of the tank a laundry receptacle 15 of the imperforate type for holding both laundry and laundry liquid. The receptacle 15 may be, generally, of any desired construction, and in the form illustrated comprises an upwardly flaring side wall 16 and an upwardly converging guard ring 19 secured to the top of the side wall by means of a lap joint 18. The upper end of the guard ring may be formed into a bead 17 to provide a smooth surface and to prevent injury to both laundry and operator. A plurality of discharge openings 20 may be provided through the lap joint, which is at the largest diameter of the receptacle. The receptacle may also have an upstanding tubular hub 22 having bearing relation with the pedestal 14.

An agitator 23 may be mounted at the top of the hub 22, the agitator comprising a generally cylindrical cap 24, on which may be mounted a substantially flat ring 29, the ring having a spline and groove connection 26 to the cap so as to be longitudinally slidable thereon. Depending from the ring 29 may be a series of agitator paddles 30. The cap may furthermore be provided with a depending inner skirt portion having alternate grooves and splines adapted to engage the alternate grooves and splines 28 on the top of a driving shaft 27 extending up through the hollow pedestal 14. It will be understood that the gearing in the gear box is such as to give the agitator a circular oscillatory motion for washing.

For washing, the laundry may be placed within the receptacle together with the laundry liquid, and the agitator may be placed on the drive shaft. The agitator may then have imparted thereto a circular oscillatory motion to agitate the laundry and laundry liquid, and simultaneously therewith the liquid may be circulated from the bottom of the tank 1 through the standpipe 8 into the top of the receptacle 15, whence it overflows throu h the discharge outlets 20. For drying, t e receptacle is rotated by any suitable means, the rotation causing the liquid to be discharged through the discharge openings 20 against the adjacent wall 2 of the tank. Such discharge causes a certain amount of splattering, which would get out of the tank if some means were not taken to prevent it. To prevent this splattering, and to retain the liquid inside the machine, a liquid retaining ring 31 may be provided having a cylindrical portion 32 suitabl attached to the wall 2 of the tank and a ra 'al flange 33 projecting inwardly1 to a point adjacent to and just above the disc arge openings 20. Thus it will be seen that when the receptacle rotates to discharge liquid through the openings 20, the liquid will be caught underneath the rin 31, arrested and allowed to drop by gravity back to the bottom of the tank.

In Fig. 3, a different form of liquid retaining ring is provided. In this modification, t e parts may be, generally, of the same construction as that described in connection with Fig. 2. In this modification, the metal of the side wall 36 of the tank is bent or rolled to form an outwardly extending annular bead 37 forming an inwardl extending channel 38. The metal ma be rther bent or rolled to form an inwar 1y extending an-' nular bead 39, adjoining and above the outwardlyextending bead 37. I The upper bead forms, 1n effect, a liquid retaining ring and discharge openings at the to extends to a point close to and just above the discharge openings 20 in the receptacle 15.

In Fig. 4, the tank 41 has the metal of its side wall 42 bent or rolled so as to form an inwardly extending annular head 43 forming a seat just below the top thereof. A flat ring 44 having its inner'and outer edges beaded forming upwardly extending beads 45 and 46 may rest on said seat. The inner edge of the ring 44 may extend close to the upper edge of the guard ring 17 on the receptacle. This liquid retaining ring 44 is easily remov able by merely lifting the same out of the tank.

It will be appreciated that all of the forms of the invention prevent the liquid discharged through the holes 20 in the receptacle from splashing out of the tank. All of them also allow free access to the receptacle, so that the laundry and agitator 23 may be placed into and taken out of the receptacle without interference. Furthermore, the receptacle and laundry are always in full view of the operator, who can witness the several operations. All of the rings allow the eas removal of the receptacle 15 from the tank for cleaning purposes.

A separate one-piece cover 47 may be provided resting upon the top of the tank, the cover having a fiat surface, which may be coated with white enamel to serve as a table when the machine is not used for laundry purposes. The cover ma have an opening 48 therein to accommo ate the discharge nozzle 11 when it is pushed to its lowermost position to get it out of the way. The hole 48 also may serve as a finger-hole by which the cover 47 may be conveniently lifted from the tank.

In the foregoing description andin the claims the term imperforate type as a plied to the receptacle is intended to inclu e any type of receptacle which is sufficiently imperforate to hold laundry liquid for washing regardless of the fact that holes may be provided for certain purposes.

While certain novel features-of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry machine, a tank having a cylindrical wall, an imperforate type laundry receptacle disposed in said tank and rotatable therein, said receptacle com rising a side Wall and a guard ring secure to the top of said side wall, said receptable having of said side in the cylinwall, said tank having forme the top an drical wall thereof and below said discharge outwardly extending annular bead and aninwardly extending annular bead above and adjoining said first bead, said inwardly extending bead extending to a point just above and close to said discharge openings.

2. In a laundry machine, a tank aving a surrounding wall, a laundry receptacle disposed in said tank and rotatable therein, said receptacle Comprising a side wall having discharge openings and a guard ring, said tank having formed in the cylindrical wall thereof and below the top an inwardly extending annular bead, said inwardly; extendin bead extending to a point just a ove and c ose to openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.'

'' GEORGE W. DUNHAM. 

